L+M and union negotiations to tentatively resume Tuesday

David Roche, president of the Connecticut State Building Trades union, works the grill as fellow members serve lunch to striking Lawrence + Memorial nurses and technicians Thursday on the picket line outside the New London hospital.

Contract negotiations between Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and the union representing about 800 nurses and technicians are tentatively slated to resume Tuesday, one week after the last session.

Spokesmen for AFT Connecticut and L+M said details, including the time and location of the meeting, will be worked out today by federal mediator John Carpino.

Nurses and technicians spent another day Thursday picketing outside the main hospital and the Pequot Health Center in Groton, taking time out for a cookout and potluck lunch on the hospital picket line with members of building trades unions.

Eleven days after their last contract expired, nurses and technicians went on strike Nov. 27 over the issue of job transfers to L+M affiliates. When they attempted to return to work four days later, the hospital refused, saying they could not return until a new contract was in place.